April 24, 2024

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A major umbrella labor group said on June 24 it will stage a general strike next month to protest what it calls the liberal Moon Jae-in government’s suppression of the labor sector.

The announcement by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions followed the arrest of its Chairman Kim Myeong-hwan on charges of orchestrating violent illegal rallies in front of the National Assembly.

The arrest sparked a fierce backlash from the militant labor group, which said the Moon government ditched its vow to put priority on improving the lives of workers and instead chose to suppress the labor sector.

“In line with Kim’s arrest, we will set up an emergency system to focus all available resources on protests and will immediately proceed with nationwide rallies,“ the KCTU told a press conference held in front of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

The group warned nonregular workers in the public sector will stage their first and largest protests on July 3, followed by a nationwide strike set for July 18.

It was not the first arrest of a KCTU chief, but the labor group, which was once friendly to the Moon government, apparently turned its back on the liberal government following clashes over key labor issues.

By Ram Garikipati and newswires (ram@heraldcorp.com)